A brand new examine finds that plant-based meat alternate options in Australian supermarkets are typically more healthy than meat merchandise however could lack vital vitamins present in actual meat.
An evaluation of 790 meat and plant merchandise discovered at main Australian retailers discovered that plant-based alternate options had a “more healthy dietary profile” general, however that some have been larger in sugar.
Of the 132 plant-based merchandise studied, solely 12.1% have been fortified with iron, vitamin B12 and zinc – vital micronutrients present in meat.
The researchers analyzed the dietary worth of meat merchandise corresponding to burgers, sizzling canines, floor beef, bacon and poultry. They in contrast it to plant-based equivalents, evaluating components together with a well being star ranking, saturated fats, sodium and the way nicely the meals was processed.
Vegan alternate options comprise related quantities of protein as meat merchandise, mentioned Maria Shaheed, information analyst on the George Institute for International Well being and co-lead creator of the examine.
Plant-based meat alternate options are usually comprised of plant proteins corresponding to wheat, soy and pea proteins.
However vitamin B12, iron and zinc we often get from meat. We will additionally get them from conventional sources of plant-based proteins…issues like tofu, falafel, beans and legumes, Shahid mentioned.
“If you happen to’re somebody who fully replaces meat merchandise with plant-based alternate options, does not eat a well-balanced food plan the place you eat numerous different fruit and veggies, and perhaps does not take dietary supplements, you are possible in danger for micronutrient deficiencies.”
The evaluation additionally discovered that plant-based merchandise typically had a better complete sugar content material, however Shahid famous that absolutely the quantities weren’t that prime, at round 1g sugar per 100g.
The analysis discovered that the majority plant-based merchandise have been ultra-processed, however on common that they had much less saturated fats and sodium, in addition to extra fiber than meat merchandise.
Dr. Jessica Danaher, a vitamin scientist at RMIT College who was not concerned within the examine, mentioned the analysis solely talked about the presence and extent of fortification in plant merchandise.
That’s, it didn’t have a look at micronutrients which might be naturally current in meals merchandise – data that producers are usually not legally required to incorporate on meals packaging.
“Obligatory immunization happens in Australia in response to a major public well being want and entails requiring meals producers so as to add particular nutritional vitamins or minerals to a selected meals or meals,” Danaher mentioned.
For instance, producers should add vitamin D to edible oils corresponding to margarine, and thiamin and folic acid to wheat flour used to make bread.
“It’s possible that plant-based meat analogues made utilizing beans, legumes, tofu, and vegetable-based components already naturally comprise vital micronutrients — together with iron and zinc — albeit in decrease quantities in comparison with meat of animal origin.”
Danaher added that vitamin B12 can be present in fortified breakfast cereals, fortified dietary yeasts, and fortified soy or almond milk.
Thomas King, CEO of the suppose tank meals Frontier mentioned the variety of plant-based meat merchandise accessible to shoppers has doubled because the examine information was collected in 2021.
“Meat reducers, or ‘flexors,’ are the first client group shopping for plant-based meat alternate options,” King mentioned. “These are individuals who need to cut back their meat consumption or diversify their protein food plan, and so are additionally prone to get key micronutrients from different sources — animal and/or plant.”
The examine has been printed within the journal Vitamin and food plan.